Organizations Cancelling Trips to State, but Reasons Changing

Phoenix, AZ – Kristen Jarnigan of the Arizona Hotel and Lodging Associationsaid the first wave came right after Gov. Jan Brewer signed thestate's new immigration law. Those were political protests. ButJarnigan said the cancellations continue.

(The people who are not booking now, it's not because ofboycotts, it's not because of SB 1070 emotion. It's because ofthe controversy. And they don't want to book in a destinationthat's could cause them any risk when they can book anywhere elseand not have to worry about it.)

Jarnigan said many meeting planners fear members, with their ownconcerns about SB 1070, will stay away. She's heard some of thoseherself.

(I got a call this morning from a boy scout troop leader out ofHouston who's bringing his boy scout troops to the Grand Canyonand was concerned because nine of them are Hispanic and he didn'tknow if he needed to carry their birth certificates. And he wasworried for his kids.)

And then there are other concerns spurred by things like commentsby the governor on national TV about headless bodies in thedesert.

(It certainly doesn't help us attract more visitors.)

Jarnigan said 40 conferences have been cancelled, costing $15million in direct hotel billings. And that doesn't count whatvisitors would have spent on food, entertainment or souvenirswhile here. For Arizona Public Radio this is Howard Fischer.